CONVERSATIONS-20

 

Pops, kya baat hai? Bahut kushi nazaar aa raha hai! Lottery lag gaya kya?

...

Mittoo, believe me when I say that for the first time, I saw the EV charger in our society being fully occupied. 

Where?

Opposite Tower 9. Not the Parking side. The other side.

Samaj gaya, pops! Lekin, what are you trying to say?

Do you agree that our previous society in Greater Noida never had a EV charger facility? Yes, I never saw any EVs in the two-storied underground parking there. 

Yes, papa!

So, when we moved into Gurugram six months ago, the first thing I noticed was the EV charger infra near the gate and elsewhere within the society. 

Mittoo, till yesterday, I never saw any EVs getting charged. Late yesterday evening, I saw one EV charging! I also notice several EVs parked in the underground parking. Desh badal raha hai!

Do you mean say, Pops, we started buying EVs?

What do you mean by, "We?"

Be careful, dad! Don't forget I am your sounding board. You discuss openly many of your dilemmas and challenges with me. Not today. Not yesterday. For the past 15 years. Therefore, that's what I call, "We."  If you demur and don't treat me like your equal, I will become Narendra Modi on poll results eve. I will go silenT. Ready? 

Hmm.

I know ego does not permit (you) accept me as your equal. Don't insult. That's enough.

Don't bloody climb onto a high horse! Mera saath reha kar, you learnt a lot. You were just a bird. Today, gyaan baat tey ho! Anyhow, apologies for that tone. 

You're a blow hot, blow cold type. Okay, finish your coffee. It's getting cold! Afterwards, you will scream that mama has given you cold treatment! 

Forget it. Why this EV theme this morning, you may be wondering. Let me explain.

Sure, dad! Go ahead.

I was reading last night before going to sleep something about EVs in the Indian context. Particularly about the consumer behaviour. 

I did not notice. I went to sleep a little early last nite. The last thing I heard was didi on a conference call with someone. 

Three professors have written a research paper on "Heterogeneity in Electric Vehicles: Indian Consumer Preferences". By the way, I read the abstract, not the full report. 14 pages, I think. 

Who are these pros?

You're a curious cat!

Uff. Me, no cat! I am Parakeet. Parrot. Alpha Male, FYI. 

The lead author is Rajeev Ranjan Kumar from the Operations Management Department, IIM-Ranchi! 

The same Ranchi - MS Dhoni hometown. Right? 

OMG! Dhoni is more or less retired. Remember Rishab Pant, the wicket keeper-batsman, now in the US for the T20 World Cup representing India? He's also a Ranchi-an!

Okay, baba! Who else? I mean besides the RR Kumar? You said three...

Patience, beta, patience! Second author is Alok Raj, from XLRI, Jamshedpur. Third is Prateek Sharma, IIM-Udaipur.

The same IIM-Udaipur you keep talking about Prof Janat Shah whom you refer to as the father of Green Logistics?

Must tell you, Mittoo, you've an elephantine memory! Yes, the same institution.

Dad, tell me how these three authors working in three different locations collaborated on this research paper? 

Everything is possible in this Internet age. You can collaborate with anyone anywhere in the world. Heard of Google Drive. Or document sharing apps? 

Got it. Tell me what these threesome say about Indian mindset on the topic of EVs.

This is what they found...

"Consumers place more emphasis on the purchase price of EVs rather than the annual savings accrued from EV usage. 

Additionally, we observe that risk-averse behaviour is negatively, while social influence is positively associated with the consumer's likelihood towards EVs. 

We categorize consumers into three segments: “conservative”, “indifferent”, and “enthusiast”, to explain the heterogeneity in their preferences based on the charging station availability, annual usage, and household income. 

The study reveals that consumers in regions with fewer charging stations or those with low vehicle usage are more risk-averse compared to those in regions with a higher density of charging stations or higher vehicle usage. 

Regarding demographics, younger consumers and those with prior car experience are more inclined to adopt EVs."

Good. Bas itna yi hai? 

Mittoo, to read the full report, you have to pay. Ready to shell out? 

 Check out HERE...

Ok.  By the way, have you seen the latest Morris Garage (MG) EVs TV promo? 

What a question to ask? I watch everything you watch on the OTT platforms daily between 12 noon to 7 pm. In that TV promo, father and son discuss the range anxiety angle and the son pacifies his agitated father saying there are 6000 EV charging stations across India. Do you believe that number, dad?

It does not matter whether I believe or not. Potential buyers desiring long routes of beyond 200km in a single charge should worry. All said and done, the EV infra is nothing to gloat about. Not only in India. Even in the US and Europe. Tonnes of money required to build such a huge infra for EV adoption. 

You mean like the petrol pumps everywhere?

Absolutely. That's why many oil marketing companies are provisioning EV charging facilities at their outlets in association with EV infra build players. 

Will your Highway Jottings series cover these EV infra angle?

Of course, Mittoo. Wait for some time.

What are you waiting for?

Waiting for the coronation of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister for the third consecutive time over the next a week or 10 days! 

Are you sure?

A stupid question to ask. Never ask. Kabardaar!

I am keeping my fingers - oops! I mean toes crossed. 

Tring...Tring...

Chalo, Mittoo.... Can I take this call? 

What a question to ask? It's your home. Your phone. Do as you wish! 

Let me join Modi in his meditation yatra. Remotely, that is. Bye, bye, Papa!